Greetings in the Classroom

It is polite to greet a new student that joins your class. Introductions immediately follow this type of greeting.
Tips

• Say hello and exchange names.
• Exchange nationalities.
• Engage in one line of small talk (weather, surroundings, news).

Useful Phrases

• I'm from...(city or country)*
• I hear it's beautiful/hot/expensive there.
• How do you like it here?
• How long have you been here?

*Learners often say "I come from..." instead of "I'm from...". Native speakers use "come from" for things or animals, not people: The toys come from China. Milk comes from cows.

Pair Practice

A: Hello. I'm Sasha.
B: Hi Sasha. I'm Brent. (hold out hand to shake)
A: Nice to meet you Brent. Where are you from?
B: Chicago, Illinois. And you?
A: I'm from Australia. I live in a small town near Sydney.
B: Australia. Wow. I've always wanted to go there. How long have you been in Canada?
A: I just arrived this week. It's my first day of school.
B: Really? I think you'll love Vancouver. It's not too hot and not too cold.

Further Practice for Pairs

• Add a third speaker and create your own lines.
• Add an unexpected interruption (attendance being called, lesson starting).
• Write the next four lines between the two speakers.
• Write an inappropriate line and explain why it should not be part of the greeting.
• Create a new dialogue that takes place between people in a classroom setting.

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Greetings before a Conversation

Sometimes you stop and talk for a minute as you say hello. This type of greeting is followed by a conversation. Close friends often hug when they greet each other, especially after a long time without seeing one other. Men sometimes give each other a hand shake or a high-five (touch palms above the head).






Tips

• Stand near a person and say hello.
• Express happiness to see a person.
• Ask a question or begin a conversation.

Useful Phrases:

• Nice to see you.
• Long time no see. (I haven't seen you in a while.)
• What have you been up to?
• How are things?
• It's been a while. (It's been a while since I've seen you.)
• What's new?
• Not much. (answer to What's new?)

Pair Practice (casual between friends or coworkers)

A: Hi Corey.
B: Hey, Jennifer. Good to see you. (hug)
A: You too. How've you been?
B: Busy, you?
A: Pretty good. How's your new job?
B: It's okay. There's a lot to learn. What's new with you?
A: Not much. The kids are back at school.
Note: Between very close friends it's uncommon to use names in a casual greeting. Sometimes nicknames or short forms are used. (Cor and Jen instead of Corey and Jennifer).

Further Practice for Pairs

• Add a third speaker and create your own lines.
• Add an unexpected interruption (bus arrives, friend comes out of a store, child fusses).
• Write the next four lines between the two speakers.
• Write an inappropriate line and explain why it should not be part of the greeting.
• Create a new dialogue that takes place between people who start up a conversation.

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Greetings in Passing

 

It is polite to greet a person you know. However, you don't always have time to stop and have a conversation. Just remember to smile as you say hello. A small wave is also polite. Sometimes you pass the same person a second time on the same day. You can say "hello again" or just smile.
Tips

• Slow down to greet someone you know. You don't have to stop what you are doing (walking, working, shopping).
• Say an appropriate form of hello.
• Smile and wave.

Useful phrases

• Hello
• Hi
• Good morning
• Good afternoon
• Good evening*
• Hey, John.
• How's it goin'?**

*Good night is a farewell (goodbye) phrase. It is NOT a greeting to use at night time.
**Native speakers often shorten "going" to "goin" in casual greetings.

Slang greetings in passing

Using slang in a greeting is typical between close friends. Teens often use slang when they greet each other. Certain English speaking countries also have their own popular form of "hello".

• Howdy
• Hiya
• Whazzup?
• Yo
• G'day (Australia)

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Greetings

Basic Greetings in English

greeting (noun): saying hello; a polite word of welcome 

greet (verb): to say hello; to welcome somebody
(The opposite of greeting is farewell - saying goodbye.)

There are many ways to say hello in English. Sometimes you say a quick hello as you are passing somebody. At other times a greeting leads to a conversation. Friends and family members greet each other in a casual way. Business greetings are more formal.





On the following links you can listen to and practise greeting people in a variety of situations.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBi6gpPbqzQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teMU8dHLqSI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPlpR0juEc8& list=PLxGL_3QDMNXfYQEG9RaPWzUrR4HNGLdiU

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